He began his professional career in 2005. In the 2005–06 ECHL season he scored 27 goals and added 49 assists to lead the Wheeling Nailers in points, and the following year he posted identical numbers. Collins played three seasons (2005–08) for the Nailers, recording 69 goals and 139 assists for a total of 208 points. He had two AHL call-ups in 2007–08, and in 2008–09 he skated for a team in Finland and later with the Tulsa Oilers in the Central Hockey League.